Manila’s humid haze and my freelance photo hunt in the sun’s brood
i checked the forecast and it’s 24.86c here right now, which feels like a sauna with 73% humidity. good luck if you’re not built for the heat. woke up to the sound of something breaking-probably the neighbor’s fan again, it’s been rattling since i moved in three months ago. anyway, back to the mission: today i’m hunting for that perfect shot of san miguel’s tapestry weaving museum before the monsoon rolls in. tried to pack light, but my camera gear’s starting to look like a suitcase strapped to my shoulders. microlight lens for the close-ups, rain cover for when the clouds finally open up, and a portable charger because philippines sun = battery killer. also, someone somewhere told me the old jeepney routes to manila are faster than the metro, but i’ve yet to confirm that because honestly, the city’s GPS system is trying to kill me.
> heard a guy at the coffee shop say this place was once a hideout for rebels in the 1930s. made me stop and snap a photo of this ancient stone wall across the street. old bone, you know? locals call it ‘the ghost walls’ now.
> heard another local swear by the halamang milagrosa church for sunrise shots. haven’t tried it yet, but my friend’s photos look like they’re from a different dimension. maybe next rain shower.
pro-tips for the thermodynamically challenged: get a hydration pack, wear all-cotton like i do, and if you’re like me and forget sunscreen? soak a t-shirt and wear it over your head for instant shade. srsly.
*debembo* is the area i’m in now, which apparently means ‘’god’s tree’ back in the day. maybe that’s why the trees here grow like they’re on red bull. anyway, if you’re bored, mandaue, which is like 30 minutes north, feels like a calmer cousin’s living room. cheaper hotels too.
embed this map if you’re too lazy to take my word:
wanna see what manila looks like through this warped lens? check these photos:
yep, this city’s a mess. hot, loud, and always moving. but hey, even the heat has a rhythm. and if you listen close? sometimes it feels like the air knows every secret these old streets are hiding.
posts coming soon:
- why jeepneys are the best therapy for people who hate schedules (forum post)
- 5 tapas you have to try before leaving (seriously, philly’s a food coma trap) (youtube)
- why the guy at the market who sells dying fish has better stories than your best friend (manila travel blog)
You might also be interested in:
- https://votoris.com/post/the-vintage-clothes-pickers-neon-oddities
- https://votoris.com/post/the-best-coworking-spaces-and-wifi-cafes-in-lubango
- https://votoris.com/post/khulna-dust-tea-and-a-whole-lot-of-questions
- https://votoris.com/post/housing-market-in-sorocaba-renting-vs-buying-trends
- https://votoris.com/post/zagrebs-real-food-scene-what-locals-actually-eat-not-what-the-guides-say